Improved carpet-sweeper



UNITED STATES REUBEN C. HIGGINS AND ABRAHAM FULLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. l

PATENT OrrrcEo IMPROVED CARPET-SWEEPER.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 96,807, dated November 16, 1869.

To a/ZZ whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that we, REUBEN C. HIGGINS and ABRAHAM FULLER, both of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Masbeing had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is an under side perspective representation, Fig. 2 a longitudinal and vertical section, and Fig. 3 a vertical and transverse section, of a carpet-sweeper embodying our invention.

The invention herein described, and which constitutes the subject-matter of this patent, is of that class of carpet-sweepers in which the revolution of the brush is effected by a gear and pinion, the former being swiveled to the case or box of the implement, and bearing upon the carpet from which it derives motion and power, and the latter fixed to the brush-shaft and receiving motion from the former, which meshes into it, the brush, as in all carpetsweepers, being a cylindrical one, and operating in connection with two pans or troughs applied longitudinally of the case of the implement in such manner that the dirt, by the revolution of the brush, is deposited therein. It becomes necessary to apply the plate in which the shaft bearings or steps are formed adjustably to the case of the implement, to compen-A sate for the wear `of the .brush and for other causes. A serious evil found to exist in practical and continued use of the present sweepers is tendency of lint and other dirt to collect and accumulate about and between the teeth of the gear and pinion, frequently stopping their motion entirely and always retarding their perfect action.

This invention is intended to obviate these objections; and it consists in the peculiar formation of the trundle or driving gear, whereby the tendencyto clog is entirely avoided and the sweeper propelled over the carpet in an easy and comparatively frictionless manner.

The drawings before mentioned as accompanying this specicatiomand which illustrate our invention, represent a carpet-sweeper as composed of an oblong rectangular box or case, A, open at its bottom, and at top provided with a suitable cover, B, for inspection or removal of its contents of dirt and refuse taken up by the brush, such dirt being deposited in two troughs or pans, a a, extending from end to end of the box, and bearing upon the surface of the carpet,or in close proximity thereto,af ter the manner of sweepers of its class.

The cylindrical brush is shown at b and its shaft at c, the journals of such shaft being supported in bearings formed in metallic platesd` el, applied adj ustably to the opposite outer ends of the case A.

The above parts are constructed and arranged in manner similar to many carpetsweepers, and so far possesses no points of novelty peculiar to ourselves.

We. apply to each end of the box A ashort immovable stud or journal, e, projecting laterally from it and over the bearing-plate of the brush-shaft, and to such studs We pivot the prongs or arms f f of the fork of the handle, as shown at g. By this means the handle is removed from contact with the brush-shaft and the latter is isolated from injurious action of the former.

The trundle and driving gear of the implement is shown Aat t' in the drawings as mounted and revolving upon a short horizontal shaft, lo, projecting inwardly from a metallic plate or bar, Z, fixed in an adjustable manner to the outside of one end of the box A, in order that the relative position of the gear may be varied to accommodate it to the lowering ofthe brush and its pinion underwear of such brush. This trundlegear t is a compound one and of peculiar formation-that is to say, it has a serrated, fiuted, or abraded periphery, to adhere tenaciously to the carpet, and by which means a driving-poweris obtained to propel the machine and revolve the brush; and it also has a series of isolated teeth or pins, m m, Snc., projecting laterally from its inner side `and in a regular circular concentric path, the aggregate periphery of these teeth or pinions being considerably less than that of the gear, in order to remove them from contact with the carpet.

To aid the locomotive of the sweeper over the carpet, I pivot a Wheel, n, in size, manner, and disposition similar to the gear, but upon the opposite sideof the brush, and with a smooth periphery.

The pinion, or, more strictly speaking, sprocket-wheel, affixed to the brush-shaft is -2 vaso? shown at o in the drawings as of such size and l Vhat We claim is- A disposition that the pins m m of the trundle- The construction and arrangement7 with the gear i shall mesh into and impart revolution to case of the carpet-sweeper7 of the adjustable it and the brush. The nature and disposition brush-shaft andits driving-pinion andthetrunof these pins m m, isolated as they are, in co1n- (lle-gear i, in the manner shown and described.

parison to the teeth of gears, entirely prevent REUBEN C. HIGGINS. any collection and accumulation of lint or ABRAHAM FULLER. other refuse matter or dirt, and7 as before ob- Wvitnesses:

served, in this respect produce a very inipor- FRED. CURTIS,

tant result. l EDWARD GRiFFIrH. 

